Greige is a popular neutral paint color that combines gray and beige tones. While many greige shades have warm undertones leaning towards brown or taupe, some greige colors take on subtle greenish hints. Understanding the green undertones in certain greige paints can help you pick the perfect tranquil shade for your home.
What are greige paint colors?
Greige (pronounced “grayj”) is a versatile neutral paint color that blends gray and beige. The blending of these undertones creates a soft, muted shade that works well in any room. Greige is ideal for spaces where you want a subtle, sophisticated color that’s not too dark or too light. It provides a cozy and calming backdrop that allows other accents and furnishings to pop.
Greige gained popularity in the 2010s and continues to be a sought-after wall color today. Its versatility and adaptability make it a foolproof choice for all design styles from modern farmhouse to coastal and everything in between. You’ll find cool-toned greges with strong gray hints as well as warm, earthy greges with beige or tan undertones. Many major paint brands like Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, and Behr offer their own takes on perfect greige tones.
Do any greige paint colors have green undertones?
While many greige paints lean gray or beige, some unique shades have faint green undertones. Green-tinged greges are uncommon but can create a soothing, nature-inspired space. The green hints are subtle, coming across as quiet, misty teals rather than bright kelly greens. When illuminated in natural daylight, the green undertones might be a bit more noticeable.
Green-tinged greige paints work beautifully in bedrooms, living rooms, and studies. They create a relaxing retreat vibe perfect for unwinding and de-stressing. Green greges pair nicely with fabrics and decor in light blues, grays, and greens. Brass accents and natural wood tones also complement the colors nicely.
Examples of popular green greige paint colors
If you want to bring a hint of green into your home with a greige paint shade, here are some top options to consider:
| Paint Color | Brand | Undertones |
|---|---|---|
| Accessible Beige | Benjamin Moore | Green, gray |
| Gray Cashmere | Benjamin Moore | Green, beige |
| Silverpointe | Sherwin-Williams | Green, gray |
| Glacier Valley | Behr | Green, beige |
| Hidden Treasures | Valspar | Green, gray |
Benjamin Moore Accessible Beige
Accessible Beige is a bestselling neutral from Benjamin Moore that mixes soft gray and green undertones. This versatile, livable shade creates a soothing backdrop for any room. It appears beige in some lighting and green-gray in others. Accessible Beige works with a variety of furniture and decor styles, making it a foolproof choice for greige with green depth.
Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere
For a green-tinged greige with more beige than gray, consider Benjamin Moore’s Gray Cashmere. The creamy tan base gets accented with misty sage-green undertones. This creates a soothing, organic neutral that feels connected to nature. Gray Cashmere’s flexibility allows it to skew slightly warmer or cooler depending on lighting. Use it to create a relaxing retreat space.
Sherwin-Williams Silverpointe
Sherwin-Williams Silverpointe is a popular, green-kissed greige that mixes light gray and greenish-blue undertones. The cooler undertones give it a tranquil spa-like vibe. Silverpointe is airy and breezy but also softly sophisticated. Use it in bedrooms, bathrooms, and offices that need a Zen mood boost.
Behr Glacier Valley
For a green-based greige with more tan than gray, try Behr’s Glacier Valley. The creamy, latte-like base hosts subtle sage green undertones. In certain lights, teal hints also emerge. Glacier Valley creates a calming, organic backdrop for living spaces. The earthy beige base makes it especially cozy and welcoming.
Valspar Hidden Treasures
Valspar’s Hidden Treasures is another green-gray greige with light misty teal undertones. The cool hints of green and gray give it an airy, ethereal vibe. Hidden Treasures can read as a light gray or a muted green depending on the light. Use it in tranquil bedrooms, powder rooms, and studios.
How lighting affects green greige paint
One factor that can strongly influence how green-gray greige paints appear is lighting. Different light sources and intensities have the power to pick up or minimize undertones.
In natural daylight, green undertones often pop more. Bright or direct sunlight seems to pull out hints of teal, sage, or jade. Indirect natural light, like on an overcast day, might impart a more straightforward greenish-gray.
Under warm incandescent bulbs, greige paints tend to appear more beige and brown. The warm light minimizes cool green-blue tones. Fluorescent and LED lights also downplay greenness and lean more neutral gray or beige.
When choosing a green-tinged greige, view paint swatches at different times of day and under various lighting conditions. This helps you understand how the color shifts in your own home.
Design ideas for green greige paint colors
Green-influenced greige paints offer endless possibilities for creating a relaxing retreat at home. Here are some ideas for utilizing verdant greige tones:
- Living room – Pair green greige walls with breezy linen curtains and furnishings in pale blue, gray, and green.
- Bedroom – Use green greige on walls, then add pops of emerald and citrine bedding and art.
- Bathroom – Green greges complement spa bathrooms nicely. Add marble, limestone, and brass accents.
- Office – Boost focus with green-gray walls, then accessorize with wood furniture and potted plants.
- Dining room – Greige with green undertones works nicely with farmhouse or industrial dining spaces.
- Kitchen – For a nature-inspired cooking space, use sage green backsplashes and countertops with greenish greige cabinets.
Whether you favor cool green-grays or earthy green-beiges, choosing the right green-tinged greige comes down to finding the perfect harmony of tones for your space and taste.
How to decorate with green greige paint
Decorating with green greige paint involves choosing accent colors and materials that harmonize with the verdant tones. Here are some ideas for complementing green greige walls:
- Textiles – Linens, cottons, wool, jute, light silks in colors like cream, moss, denim, sky blue, and slate.
- Wood tones – Oak, birch, maple, and bamboo all complement green greiges nicely.
- Metallics – Brushed brass, nickel, bronze, and antique silver accent green greige elegantly.
- Paint colors – Deeper shades of emerald, forest, sage, and moss green for trims and accents.
- Accessories – Vases, trays, bowls, and decor items in translucent sea glass colors.
- Countertops – Honed limestone, creamy marbles, and eco-friendly concrete in natural hues.
- Flooring – Wide plank oak or maple hardwoods, natural stone tile, seagrass, and sisal rugs.
Avoid pairing green greiges with overly warm reds, oranges, yellows, and pinks. This can make the green tones feel “off.” Instead, opt for cooler accent colors in harmonious blues, greens, grays, and whites.
Tips for choosing greige paint with green undertones
Ready to go green with greige? Here are some top tips for choosing the perfect verdant greige paint for your home:
- Look at paint chips in both natural and artificial light to observe undertone variations.
- Test greige paint samples on walls at different times of day to see how lighting affects color.
- Decide if you prefer green-beige or green-gray bases for your ideal shade of greige.
- Match existing furnishings and fabrics to green greige swatches before painting.
- Opt for green-tinted greges in smaller spaces and green-beiges in larger, open rooms.
- Consider your style – green-gray works well modern and transitional rooms while green-beige suits traditional decors.
- Don’t overlook ceiling and trim colors that can pick up or minimize green hints.
Green greiges offer a fresh, organic take on everyone’s favorite versatile neutral. With the right attention to undertones and lighting, you can create a soothing green greige backdrop that relaxes and refreshes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of greige paint?
Greige paint comes in a variety of shades with different undertones. The most common greiges are:
- Warm, brown-beige greiges like Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
- Cool, gray-beige greiges like Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray
- Neutral greiges with slight green undertones like Behr Grant Beige
- Earthy green-brown greiges like Valspar Rocky Ridge
- Misty sage green-gray greiges like Benjamin Moore Silver Slate
What colors go well with green greige?
Colors that complement green greige walls include:
- Blues like denim, sky, robin’s egg, and cyan
- Greens like sage, moss, emerald, and sea glass
- Grays like charcoal, silver, dove, and slate
- Beiges and tans
- Cream and ivory
- Muted peach and mauve tones
What rooms is green greige good for?
Green greige works well in these rooms:
- Bedrooms – Creates a relaxing retreat
- Bathrooms – Evokes a spa-like feel
- Studios and offices – Promotes focus
- Living rooms – Provides a soothing backdrop
- Dining rooms – Offers an organic element
- Entryways and hallways – Feels welcoming
What finish should I use with green greige paint?
Greige paint with green undertones looks best with these finishes:
- Matte – Provides a soft, subtle look
- Eggshell – Gives a velvety appearance
- Satin – Offers slight mid-range sheen
- Flat – Minimizes color variations
Semi-gloss or high-gloss finishes can overemphasize the green tones in greige. Matte to eggshell finishes allow the subtle green hints to shine.
